Erin is a 48-year-old school teacher from Sistersville, WV, and a devoted mother of three. She has dedicated her life to helping children, first in the Wood County school system and now as a special education teacher at Sistersville Elementary. Erin’s passion for teaching was inspired by the incredible educators she had growing up, and she has spent over 15 years making a difference in the lives of her students. She is also a loving mom who has faced more than her share of challenges, including the sudden loss of her children’s father a few years ago.

In 2022, Erin received the difficult news that she had cirrhosis of the liver, caused by a rare genetic disorder called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. By the time she was diagnosed, her liver was already severely damaged. At the beginning of 2025, Erin’s health began to decline more rapidly, and she was told it was time to work towards a liver transplant. She is now under the care of Duke University Medical Center, where she is being evaluated and has recently been listed for a transplant. As she waits for a donor liver, Erin has had to go on unpaid medical leave from her teaching position, adding financial stress to an already difficult situation.

Being sick is expensive, and Erin faces mounting medical bills, travel and lodging costs for her appointments, and the ongoing responsibility of providing for her family. Thanks to the generosity of her sister Vicki, family friend Shawna Richeson, the American Legion of Sistersville, and many others, some funds have already been raised to help with the expenses she and her caregivers will have after surgery. Erin will be required to live near the hospital for at least 30 days post-surgery, which adds to the financial burden. She is deeply grateful and humbled by the support she has received so far—friends, family, and even strangers have donated and offered prayers for her and her family.

Please consider donating whatever you feel led to, so Erin and her family have one less expense to worry about as she waits for her surgery. If donating isn’t possible, your prayers and support mean the world. Erin believes wholeheartedly that God is by her side, making a way for her health to be restored and allowing her to spend many more years with her family. She sends her love and heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting her journey.